St. Stephen's Day

On this day, people visit each other, bring gifts.The last Christmas holiday, December 26, St. Stepan’s Day is celebrated in all European countries. The feast of the first Christian martyr, St. Stepan, who declared that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah. The holiday quickly spread to all countries, thanks to the sailors who considered St. Stepan their patron.

On this day in Czech cities and villages, people visit each other, bring gifts and together guess what awaits them in the coming year. Carolers also give themselves a will, and “betlemans” go from one church to another and compare the merits and historical correctness of the nursery.

"Betlemas" are mechanical scenes, which for young children clearly tells and shows the story of the birth of Christ. Sometimes in the "betlems" as figures are gingerbread or trees. The world’s largest bellem is Krizov ifchki. It is included in the Guinness Book of Records and is located in the Museum of the Yindrikhovogradets region in the city of Yindrichuv Hradec.

The Karlstein Town Museum, the former home of the priest, has the largest exhibition of betlems from private collections. An exceptionally rare exhibit is considered the largest puppet bell in the Czech Republic - the Karlstein Royal bell with an area of 80 square meters. The scenes of the betlem are the town of Karlstein with a fence, and among the figures you can find the image of the 10 most famous Czech rulers.

The museum has betlems made of bread, sugar, tin and even a betlem in a nut, etc. For children, moving betlems are prepared, which can be started by yourself.